A good friend Marney, who I worked with in Darwin when we were young and silly, now lives in Sweden, so after a recent work trip to Zürich she stayed on to visit us for a weekend 22-24 April. Nothing has changed – we’re just older and still silly.
visiting friends
August 13: What I’m taking to London
Ok, here’s the boring post about what I’m taking to London for the five day trip. Once again, I’ve packed too much, because of that old “well there’s still lots of room” trap.
Instead of the carry-on suitcase I took to Sicily (see what I took to Sicily for a two-week holiday here), I’m taking a lightweight backpack which is also water resistant. There will be rain this weekend! I wouldn’t want to carry this on a long walking trip as the straps don’t provide much support, but for the train and underground trips it will be perfect.
The idea is that most things can be layered. The long sleeve green top goes under the colourful sleeveless top, the black tank top goes under everything, the cardigan goes over everything (except the cream long sleeve top which is a bit full), the long sleeve green top goes under the cream long sleeve and so on and so on …
And so on we go!
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- Everything fits very easily (including the handbag) into this Exped lightweight backpack
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- Bottoms 1: Will wear these most of the time because of the weather!
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- Bottoms 2: Believe it or not this is a lovely skirt that fits perfectly. Nice for going to dinner perhaps? Unsure I should be taking this as the weather might mean it’s not so useful
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- Top 1: Plain black merino wool tank
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- Top 2: Colourful sleeveless top
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- Top 3: The hacked dress from April which is now a top – I still haven’t hemmed the bottom but when it’s tucked in no one will know! Shhhh!
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- Long sleeve 1: Thin green and white stripe cotton top
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- Long sleeve 2: Cream long-sleeve lightweight top
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- Jacket 1: Black dressy jacket
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- Jacket 2: Black cropped cardigan. Can be worn for layering underneath the dressier one
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- PJs 1: This pair of leggings will be worn around friend’s houses and as PJs
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- PJs 2: A navy blue and white fine-striped t-shirt made of lovely, breathable, merino wool.
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- Electronics 1 and 2: iPad mini in case with charger (not shown, which also works for my iPhone, Electronics 2, not shown)
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- Accessories 1: Black handbag – would have preferred the small cream one I took to Sicily but it can’t fit an umbrella!!
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- Accessories 2: Green and white spotted cap. I always travel with a hat!
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- Accessories 3: Black belt
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- Accessories 4: Black scarf
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- Accessories 5: Purple scarf
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- Accessories 6: My jewellery – one necklace, two pairs of ear rings (blue coloured studs not shown) and two rings
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- Necessities 1: Umbrella!
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- Necessities 2: Pouch with passport, Rescue Remedy drops (I don’t like flying), tissues, hand wipe, ear plugs, olloclip camera attachment for my iPhone, pen and plastic zip tie
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- Undergarments: Two bras, two full-brief merino wool undies and two g-strings
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- Shoes 1: Black sandals with tan straps. They weigh 340 grams as a pair. Hope I get to wear them!
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- Shoes 2: Black sturdy walking shoes with three pairs of socks
My toiletries and make-up are pretty much what I took on the Camino and to Sicily, but this time instead of the blue travel case, I’ve just put everything into a medium-sized ziplock plastic bag, which you have to take out and show when you’re travelling with hand luggage only. So rather than have both bags, I’ve just packed one.
On the plane, I’ll be wearing the jeans, belt, black sturdy shoes and socks, black tank top, cream long sleeve top, black jacket, jewellery (with green earrings) and black and cream scarf. Everything else, except for the skirt which is a heavy jersey material, fits into a packing cube, including the hat!
Some people hate packing cubes, some love them. I’m in the love camp. Because my backpack has only one large cavity, it’s great to know I can put my hand in there and pull out the clothes bag, which has a handy handle at the top. Shame the black skirt doesn’t fit in, but hey …
All my clothes, except for the skirt, in the cube. You can see the spots of my hat
So in the bag will be the packing cube, a shoe bag with my sandals and two pairs of socks, my black skirt, the iPad, my toiletries ziplock bag and my handbag, which holds all the necessities, including the electronics charger. Oh yes and my wallet. Can’t forget that!
Leo is very kindly coming home to drop me off at Bern train station. Then it’s the train to Basel, flight to Gatwick, then train to central London for a very exciting and much appreciated long weekend with many friends! And a 20-year reunion! Time to get ready 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful day.
May 22: Late post after a great night
Oops, I didn’t write yesterday because we went to visit friends Leonie and Bjorn, and their two kids Maya and Sebastian, and got home at midnight, way too tired to write.
I spent a few hours with Pastora in the late afternoon then caught the 5pm commuter-crazy-hour train from Bern to Brügg, near Biel. (Wow I do not miss that kind of commuting. In Sydney, in the last place I lived, it was a 20 minute walk or short bike ride to work!)
Leo picked me up from the station at 5.30pm and we drove to Leonie and Bjorn’s traditional Swiss house, which they’ve been renovating over the past few years. Six hours later we left – those hours just flew! I feel bad as they would have had to be up early this morning with the kids. Oops!
Maya and Bjorn preparing the garden room for dinner
Leonie and Maya
Unfortunately I didn’t get a photo of Sebastian. At first he was shy, but after our discussion about whales and sharks, he was very entertaining. It was the first time Leo had met the family and the first time I’d met Bjorn and the kids.
Leonie is a friend of a friend in Melbourne, and she’s been living in Switzerland for nearly five years. We’ve enjoyed our weekly Tuesday lunchtime catch ups for about two months now. Thank you for a great night guys and we look forward to you coming over in summer!
Will write more, for today’s post, tonight.
Wishing you a wonderful day.
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